Artwork
The Policeman's bribe
The Policeman's bribe is a paint painting by Anwar Chitrakar. It dates from 2010 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work is a contemporary Kalighat painting titled “The Policeman’s Bribe.
About this work
Overview
The work is a contemporary Kalighat painting titled “The Policeman’s Bribe.” It depicts a rural scene in which a police officer seizes a woman, pulling her toward a police vehicle, while another woman behind her offers cash in an attempt to secure her release. The composition captures a moment of tension and negotiation.
Subject & Meaning
The image foregrounds the dynamics of local authority and corruption, illustrating how a bribe is employed as a means to intervene in an arrest. By focusing on ordinary villagers, the painting comments on the everyday realities of power imbalance and the informal tactics used to navigate them.
Technique & Style
Rendered in the Kalighat tradition, the piece employs bold outlines, flat areas of color, and simplified figures characteristic of the genre. While adhering to the folk aesthetic, the artist updates the subject matter to reflect contemporary social issues, maintaining the style’s narrative clarity.
History & Provenance
Kalighat paintings originated in 19th‑century Kolkata, often portraying scandals such as the Tarakeshwar episode. This modern example continues that lineage, extending the genre’s focus from historic events to present‑day scenes of civic interaction. The work is attributed to Anwar Chitrakar, a practitioner known for reviving the form.
Context
The painting situates itself within a broader tradition of visual commentary on public morality in Bengal. By portraying a police officer and a potential bribe, it echoes earlier depictions of corruption and social critique that were common in Kalighat art, linking past and present concerns.
Artist & collection
Artist
Anwar Chitrakar paints in the Kalighat tradition, a 19th-century style from Calcutta that turned everyday scenes into bold, witty scrolls.
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Leaf from a Kalighat album: Woman Playing Music (recto); Krishna Stroking Radha's Feet (verso)
Leaf from a Kalighat album: Woman Playing Music (recto); Krishna Stroking Radha's Feet (verso)
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